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Bidders still sought for delayed 210 Freeway sound wall project

Freeeway traffic moves along the Foothill (210) Freeway under the Angeles Crest Highway overpass on August 11, 2010. La Cañada Flintridge plans to build soundwalls in this area and on Monday, Oct. 21, 2013 the City Council voted to reject a bid from a contractor for the construction of three sound walls along the freeway. The project will be re-advertised in hopes of attracting more bidders. Construction could begin as early as December.
(Raul Roa / Staff Photographer / August 11, 2010)

October 25, 2013 | 10:28 a.m.

A project intended to shield noise from the Foothill (210) Freeway in La Cañada Flintridge has faced a setback.

The City Council on Monday night voted to reject a bid from a contractor for the construction of three sound walls along the freeway. The project will be re-advertised in hopes of attracting more bidders. Construction could begin as early as December.

The move is expected to save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars, while allowing city officials the option to compare multiple bids for the project. The project only received one bid, which exceeded the city’s estimate by more than $600,000. The estimate cost for the project is over $2.9 million.

When consulting firm Anderson Penna reached out to multiple contractors about the project, many of them expressed concern about handling and removing trees in the project area, according to a city report.

Access to the project area from the freeway and confusing specifications were other listed concerns.

“The city will address the contractors' concerns and revise the plans accordingly,” Director of Public Works Ed Hitti said in an email.

Terry Kelley, program manager at Anderson Penna, said that the limits of the project itself will not change. She reiterated that the issues raised by contractors will be addressed.

“We listened to [the contractors] and made modifications that will help them get around these tight trees,” she said.

Construction was originally scheduled to begin in the summer, but it was pushed back after officials found money for an additional sound wall. The project will install three sound walls, softening noise between homes and the freeway. The project is being mostly funded through a Measure R transportation tax.